The Languages of the Iberian Peninsula

Languages of the Iberian Peninsula

Linguistic reality is rich and plural in Spain. There are three other languages, besides Castilian (the official language in the whole of the national territory), which have co-official status in the autonomous regions where they are spoken. This is the case with Basque, Catalan and Galician. To these, we should add other languages that have a lesser legal protection, such as Asturian, Aragonese and Aranese. Furthermore, Catalan is also spoken in the Balearic Islands, and in Valencia, although it is called “Valencian” there. Portuguese, a close relative of Galician, is spoken in Portugal and also in some places in Extremadura and Castile. The varieties of Mirandés and Barranqueño are spoken in Portugal.